my rating: Triple score multiplier for Diddy.

what possessed me: Piopi was trying to convince me to see Grown Ups and I hastily concocted an alternate plan.

what i learned: You know, Forgetting Sarah Marshall was pretty funny. A healthy smattering of said ha-has can be attributed to Russell Brand, and to a lesser but still potent extent Jonah Hill. That was unintentionally filthy. At any rate, this re-teaming doesn’t disappoint. It does wander into unexpected and unusual territory in the last section, but hangs on to the funny. But who knew Sean Combs was going to be the shiniest star at the sparklefest? Until I saw this movie, I hadn’t forgiven him for discovering Mase. But we cool now. We cool.

you may also enjoy: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man and all the other good ones.

tangential thought: If I were an unruly rock star, I would simply demand dumplings in my dressing room at every venue. It is this lack of charismatic quirkiness that prevents me from being a rock star. And a complete and all-inclusive lack of musical prowess.

my rating: Two old chums in a land of tea, crumpets and fisticuffs.

what possessed me: Dahee and I were killing time in Ikebukuro and it was this or Did You Hear About the Morgans? I think I’ve said enough.

what i learned: Before I saw this, I had a theory that people didn’t like this movie because it’s not what they had in mind when they thought of Sherlock Holmes. Now I have a theory that people don’t like this movie because the cool fights come out of nowhere and the potentially interesting detective stuff seems gratuitously expository, and tacked-on. But it’s a movie that’s easy on the eyes with fun accents, so whatever.

you may also enjoy: From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and unfulfilled potential.

tangential thought: I kind of feel like Rian Johnson could have done a really good job with this. But he could probably make a movie I’d worth watching out of a story about two comically different sisters who use witchcraft to fight a family curse wherein their lovers die young.

my rating: Two thumbs up. On one hand.

what possessed me: I will tell you what attracted me was the premise of a contest for amassing souls with dreams and imagination on one side and resigned apathy on the other. At least one person who knows me too well may tell you that, if there is an indication that Johnny Depp batted an eyelash at it, I will see it. We cannot both be right.

what i learned: Terry Gilliam has I think, patented his own brand of creepy. Which should make him more money than the CG effects in this movie indicate it does. In a nutshell; Yes people, using your imagination and resisting the urge to succumb to the tedium of reality is neither easy nor is it always rewarding in the way that you hope it will be. But it does make living more interesting.  Also, faith is an amazing and irreplaceable magical elixir. And losing it sucks. And, being a parent must be an staggeringly emotionally draining affair. By the way, I was going to get all up in arms about the statement being made about video games. So, well played, my fellow Minnesotan. Also… well, there’s a lot going on here.

you may also enjoy: Synechdoche, New York, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Survive Style 5+, and believing.

tangential thought: Oh how the world would shudder with trepidation and collapse in utter chaos and astonishment if Mr. Magorium and Dr. Parnassus opened a theme restaurant… I have never seen Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.